I would suggest going with a staff and sword/focus. Then go with a shatter build. Start putting traits into Dueling first (for the trait that creates a clone when you dodge), then Illusions, then Domination.

Staff for leveling is solid and safe even though it is a bit slower than most other professions. Definitely pick up the deceptive evasion trait, it is a huge qol improvement and frees up a lot of different playstyles.

Mesmer
Illusionary Counter: The range of the reactive part of this ability is now consistent with its indicated range.
Mesmer Portals can no longer be interacted with when there is an obstruction between them and the player.
Mind Stab: This skill will now hit up to three targets.
Illusionary Riposte: The reactionary strike that occurs when this skill blocks an attack now has the correct distance of the ability instead of half the distance. Added a ranged fact to this skill.
Mirror: This healing skill now applies reflection for 2 seconds instead of 1.
The Prestige: This ability is no longer channeled and will automatically detonate 3 seconds after the ability is used.

Mirror is now good, prestige change is good but is useless when current flying projectiles break stealth when you activate stealth.

Mind stab is for 1h sword and portal change is for things that would cause obstruction (not los)

Utility consists of boon removing, condition removing, CC with slows and knockbacks, regeneration, and whirl finisher for things like leeching bolts and healing bolts and reflection.

Most of the time you will be using focus, because it has the best damage for aoe and reflects projectiles there will be cases where you won't need reflect or aoe in which you switch to offhand sword. Or if you are confident your warden won't die keep focus on because whirl finisher + massive damage pretty much owns offhand sword. (I still consider offhand sword a piece of crap in terms of overall usefulness).

So I am completely over the OP phantasm spec for both wvw and PvE. Playing around with focus in dungeons I noticed whirl finisher, is the most overpowered thing in the universe and we have one on potential 15 sec cd. Messing around I combined our combo fields with it and noticed I can get a 10-12 stack of confusion on mobs with whirl finisher. Combine that with a shatter after whirl finishes then scepter death beam that is a total of...... 20-23 stacks of confusion.

Though stacking pure condition damage is no good with a mesmer (it's best to have both) so here is a new build:

With this you will have shit ton of toughness, 1600ish power, 50% crit, 70% phantasm crit, and 600 condition damage (condition damage cap is around 1200).

With a 5 stack of confusion, it will hit for around 1200 an activation which is pretty good.

The goal here is to combo field - whirl finisher - shatter. Iwarden bolts should hit foes a bit away and if he makes direct contact (which most of the time he does in pve) that will get a 10-12 stack of bleeds going as well, a long with it's base damage increased by your power.

Iwarden also offers defensive purposes with reflect. With curtain and feedback you have 3 reflects so range mobs shouldn't be an issue.

Staff is there for bleed stacking when shatter is down and for defensive purposes. Whirl finisher also works with others like healing bolts with ele's or cleansing with guardians.

Hmmm, idk why i thought that the phantasm that used Whirling Defense WASNT a whirl finisher... i know i ran a ranger build on a similar theme of "Kill them with Whirls!!".

Keep in mind that the little bolts it throws out have a small (i mean freaking small) splash effect when they hit the floor/an enemy that will cause the effect to everything around it as well and that each Whirl sends out 2 bolts, one tends to fly straight into the target, the other tends to go out randomly!

Have fun Zito!

PS: We need to PvP together sometime, that was a very fun experience xD

Originally Posted by draykorinee

Youre in the mmo forums and you find mmos boring, Im heading on over to the twilight forums to add my unecessary and shallow 2 cents.

Keep in mind that the little bolts it throws out have a small (i mean freaking small) splash effect when they hit the floor/an enemy that will cause the effect to everything around it as well and that each Whirl sends out 2 bolts, one tends to fly straight into the target, the other tends to go out randomly!

Yea it's not amazing, I usually get between a 5-12 stack if warden doesn't die.

PS: We need to PvP together sometime, that was a very fun experience xD

Just to be clear, you lay down a field, pop Iwarden, scepter zap, and profit? My mesmer's only 16 and I'm not familiar with their fields or finishers, so please pardon the n00bness. I'm trying to see if this is something I can utilize while leveling. Do you just cycle through staff5, null field, and feedback each encounter or..?

Jon needs to fire whoever is doing their "testing" because for the 3rd time in a row their testing has been proven wrong. Izerker is specified to hit 4 times.

---------- Post added 2013-05-02 at 10:21 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Lane

Just to be clear, you lay down a field, pop Iwarden, scepter zap, and profit? My mesmer's only 16 and I'm not familiar with their fields or finishers, so please pardon the n00bness. I'm trying to see if this is something I can utilize while leveling. Do you just cycle through staff5, null field, and feedback each encounter or..?

Staff5 should be used above all else if you are starting with staff as it adds block to your phantasms daze to foes giving your warden more time to whirl. After that it's whatever you need the most.

Why in the Hell don't mesmer speed boosts stack duration? The ones I get from Signet of Inspiration don't stack with Temporal Curtain, nor do 2x Temporal Curtains stack duration (been playing with my bf's mesmer). I don't recall ever having that problem with the speed boosts on my warrior or ranger.